Universal joint



April 30, 1929. TRIULZ] 1,711,187

UNIVERSAL JOINT 4 Filed N V- 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l fnve/yfvr Jase v72 Piazza;

Patented Apr. 30, 1929. r

STATES PATENT OFFICE,

Jesnrz-i TEI'ULZL' or Los auonnss, CALIFORNIA, assisnon T0 IBRALY MANUFAC- roams COM?ANY, or ilos ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION or oALI-- FORNIA.

UNIVERSAL JOINT.

Application filed November 1, 1926. Serial No. 145,614.

' This invention has to do generally with shaft couplings, and is more particularly concerned with couplings of the universal type wherein resilient connection is provided between coupling elements. 7

The general utility and advantages of this type of coupling are well understood, and therefore need not be discussed in detail here, though it may be said briefly that such couplings have characteristics which allow the transmission of power from one shaftto anotherwith a cushioning effect to absorb the shocks and strains of sudden stopping and starting and to ma'ntain a proper driving relation between shafts when they are out of axial alinement. In my device, the means for absorbing such shocks and jars is fully ellicient irrespective of the condition of. shaft alinement, and the means for insuring proper driving connection irrespective of conditions of shaft alinement are fully effective through out. movement of parts due to the cushioning action. v

Couplings of this general type are especially useful in connection with the transmission of power from the power plant of a motor vehicle to the drivenwheels, the coupling then being adapted to receive and absorb thereon without excessive strain on the coupling parts of other elements of the driveconnection. v

The arrangement of parts is preferably such that after the resilient connection has yielded under load to a certain degree, there comes into play a positive drive connection,

to obvious advantage.

It may be set forthas among the principal objects of the invention to provide a coupling of the type described generally above that is not only highly elhcient in all phases of its operation. but is of utmostsimplicity and sturdincss, these characteristics being most important both from the standpoint of the cost of manufacture and assembly and by reason of the abusive use to which such devices are often put. It may be noted, however, that while I have referred to the, coupling as being especially adaptable as a drive connective unit of a motor vehicle, this is in no way to be considered as limitative, for the coupling may be utilized in any situation pivotal connection has been provided in alinement with such axis of rotation, said connection has been of a ball and socket joint type rather than of a drive connective type. Therefore, as a particular feature of my invention, 1 have provided a centrally located universal pivotal connection which is also a driving connection between oneof the shafts and the member to which it is pivotally connected.

By virtue of this arrangement, there is direct drlve between said pivotally connected shaft and its member and the necessity for driving elements in addition to the universal pivotal connection is thereby eliminated, to obvious advantage. I

The disposition of the pivotal connection at the polnt indicated makes it possible to locate the drive connective elements of said pivotal connection at the most efficient point, rendering such elements less liable to shear or fail under the tremendous torsional and shearing strains to which they are exposed. Furthermore, the connection which I have devised has inherent characteristics which render it capable of withstanding these torsional stresses and strains with particular efficienc'y.

I have also provided a joint which calls for a minimum of accurate machining to insure proper elimination of lost motion, and the parts are so relatlvely arranged and are so fashioned that the joint, per so, may be asmade merely through cap screws or bolts.

Anothervery important feature of my de- V vice lies in the provision for its efficient lubrication, there being passageways whereby lubricants are carried to all wearing surfaces. The ability so to pass the lubricant Wituout the provision of complicated lubricating devices arises from the general nature of the assembly. It is merely necessary to keep the main compartment of the joint supplied with lubricant, there thus being the necessity for only one lubricating fixture accessible from without the joint, the lubricant passing naturally from this main compartment to all the wearing surfaces.

Other features of novelty and objects of the invention will be made apparent in the following detailed description, reference be ing had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my joint;

Fig. 2 is a medial, longitudinal section of lijjliixjgnt, slightly enlarged with respect to 3 is a side elevation partly in transverse, medial section, showing a modified means for attaching a flexible boot to the joint;

Fig. l is a section line lfl-. of 2;

. Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of a;

Fig. 6 is a section on line ti e of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the spider member of my oint;

Fla. 8 is a perspective view of the cylindric oint element, with a fragment of one of the shafts applied thereto; and

9 is a perspective viewef the member used for holding); the spider of 'Z' and the joint element of Fig. 8 releasably in assembly; 7, 8 and 9 l cing arranged in the relative positions they occupy during assembly.

In the drawings, numerals 10 and 11 indicate shafts drivingly connected through the coupling generally indicated at 12. Keyed or otherwise suitably secured to shaft 10 is a flange adapted to be secured rigidly by such means bolts 1ft to number of coupling 12. Coupling; also includes a member which is capable of limited axial rotation with respect to member as will hereinafter be made apparent, and is connected at 17 to shaft 11 for universal pivotal move ment with respect thereto.

The particuh neans for holdin members and against separative movement in the direction of their axes, and the means resiliently connecting, these members regards their relative rotation are not essential to the invention, considered in its broader aspects. rlowever, I will describe the il ustrated means with some particularity I they are preferred, and, being novel. in themselves, are made the subject-matter of certain claims. An understanding of the preferred embodiment will make it apparent to those skilled in the art how the invention may be applied with advan out departing): from the spirit and scope of my broader claims.

Member 15 may be described as cnpshaped member, the plate or bottom portion 18 being held to flange 13 by bolts 15- and the marginal, annular flange portion 19 of the cup member defining a s1; stantially annular compartment 20. Plate 18 is prefer: bly annularly relieved at 21, member 16 being adapted to bear against the annular at one side of the relieved portion, and against the end of central hub which delines the inner extent of the lfGllCiGdPOltlOIl. Preferably, though not necessarily, bottom 18 has a central bore 2% eirtending throiug'h hub and adapted to take the axial, alining stub shaft which extends centrally from member 16.

Extending radially inward from flange 19 are the ang'ularly spaced lugs 26, said lugs presenting inward arcuate faces 2? which concentric will shaft 10, is also here 24-, and the lugs have overhanging or inwardly extending; lips or flanges 28 which present shoulders 29 in opposition to face 22 of bottom 18. The spaces 36 extending angularly between lugs 26 may termed entrzmce notches, and are provided for a purpose to be made apparent.

Member 16 is of spider formation, being; mounted within member 15 for limiting axial rotation about the extended axis of shaft 10, a. d is universally pivotally connected 17 to shaft 11. will firstdeseribe the mountinn of member 16 in member 15, though it will be understood this particular mounting, while it is preferable, do not control or limit the invention.

ilember 16 includes a central hub portion 31 from which extend a plurality of radial arms or wings 32. Preferably, though not necessariy, there are provided four of these arms or wings, wings 32 and 232* being dia- 'ally opposed, while wii 32 and 32 are diametri vall y opposed and are -ed substantially 90 from 32 and 3?) ends of the wines have a hes which are substantially co iplementary to lips 9.8, and the angular extent of each is preferably, though not necessarily, considerably less than the angular extent of the associated lug 26.

In assemblingmembers 5 and 16, member 16 is lowered into compartment 2 ings 32 being passed. through notches a0 and shaft 25 being entered in here The spider is then rotated in one direction or the other to bring); wings 32 into alinement with lugs 26 and beneath shoulders 29, fce 1 sad shoulders engaging opposite s e to hold members 15 and agaiin movement in the direction of thc common axis rotation A of shaft 10 d 15. The ends as (Fig. 5)

preferably arcuately complementary to lug faces 27, said lugs and wings centering member 16 within member 15, as does also shaft 25 within bore 24. V

Entered through apertures 35 in flange 19 are springs 36, the inner ends of said springs being adapted to engage opposite'sides of lugs 32 and 32". Stop screws or heads37 are threaded into bores 35 to engage-theouter ends of springs 36 and to place said springs under predetermined pressure. The tension of the several springs may be adjusted individually by individual adjustment of the associated screws or heads 37, set screws 38 preferably being provided to hold the individual heads 37 in adjusted positions. Springs 36 thus serve as yieldable connections between members 15 and 16, allowing limited relative rotation therebetween. WVhile the springs themselves maybe so proportioned that they positively hold wings 32 from rotating out from beneath shoulders 29, I preferably provide heads 37 with axial shanks 39 whiclimay have the three-fold function of centering the associated springs, limiting the angular movement of member 16 by forming a stop for an opposite wing 32 and thereby preventing said wing from rotating from beneath shoulders 29, and forming apositive drive connection between members 15 and 16 by engagement with wings 32 after a given'pair of springs have beencompressed a predetermined deree. i 1 g In effect, it will be seen that springs 36 serve as yieldable abutments supported by member 15 and adapted yieldingly to resist rotation of member 16 with respect to member 15, while shanks 39 provide adjustable, positive stops or abutments which come into play after springs 36 have yielded to a predetermined extent. Of course, heads 37 may be adjusted individually or collectively to vary the resiliency of the connection between members 15 and 16 to give any desired effect, though ordinarily they will be adjusted in a manner normally to maintain wings 32 centered with respect to the associated lugs 26. 1 will now-describe the centrally arranged, universal pivotal connection 17 between shaft 11 and member16, it being noted that this connection acts as a driving connection between shaft 11 and member 16, in all its positions of pivotal movement, andthat it is located in alinement both with the axis of rotation A of shaft 10,-member 15 and member 16, and with the axis of rotationB of shaft 11. Of course, when shaft 11 is angular with respect to shaft 10, connection 17 lies at the intersection of the projected axes A and 18 while, when shafts 10 and 11 are in axial alinement, connection 17 lies in the common axis of rotation AB. I

Hub 31 has a central, arcuate recess 40 which is defined by the cylindric bearing face 40, the axis C. of said recess intersecting the axis A, projected, at right angles. The cylindric face'40 is of an angular extent greater than 180. The recess 40 extends in the direction of its axis to the end of hub boss 41, it thus being possible easily to machine the recess properly and also providing an entrance mouth 42 whereby'the U-shaped, cylindric joint element 43 may be thrust endwise into said recess. Element 43 has an arc uate or cylindric bearing face 44 which is complementary to bearing face 40 though of a little greater angular extent so the ends 47 of the U-arms 48 extend slightly beyond face 49 of spider 16 when shafts 10 and 11 are in alinement.

A pivot pin '50 extends diametrically through element 43 andracross the space 51 between arms 48, preferably, though not necessarily, being held non-rotatably in arm apertures 52 by force-fit, and pin 50 is located midway between the ends of element 43 so when said element is thrust endwise into the recess until inner face 53 engages the end wall 54 of recess 40, said pin 50-lies so its longitudinal axis D intersects axis A, projected; said axis D intersecting axes B and C at right angles. I V

Shaft 11 has an arcuate end 55 which is flattened at 56 so as to be nicely taken between arms 48, and has a diametrically extending bore 57 whereby the shaft is pivotally mounted on pin 50. v e

From the above, it will be seen that shaft .11 may be swung pivotally about axis D with respect to element 43, and may be swung pivotally with element 43 about axisC of recess 40, and since axes C and D extend at'right angles with respect to one another, shaft 11 is capable of universalpivotal movement with respect to member 16.

As a convenient means for holding element 43 against endwise movement, I provide a cylindric blockor plug 58 whichis adapted to be taken within mouth 42 to close it, and may carry wing 32. The plug preferably has a flange 59 engaging the end of boss 41 to limit its inward endwise movement and thereby prevent the plug from being moved into binding engagement with the outerend'of element 43. However, said plug is close enough to said end of the element to prevent any appreciable endwise movement of said element and thus serves positivelyoto maintain pin 50 in correct relationship with axis A. Preferably, a set screw 60 is threaded through hub 41 into plug 58 to hold said plug from moving outwardly and into binding relationv with the associated lug 26.

Hub 31 is preferably countersunk or relieved at 61 and plug 58 is relieved at 62 to allow an increased extent of angular move ment to shaft 11.

Preferably, there is applieda usual flexible boot 63, made of leather or the like, applied to member 15 and engagingshaft 11 in a mannor to define a lubricant compartment 6&

which is in communication with compartment 20. While the precise nature of this boot and means for attaching it to member 15 are not important to this invention, 1 have shown a preferred means in Fig. 2. There is here shown a ring 65 secured to the outer end of flange 19 at 66 and having an out wardly extending flange 67 with an annular recess 68 on its outer periphery. The larger end of boot 63 is drawn over flange 67 and clamped into recess 68 as by strap 69. The smaller end of the boot is drawn together about shaft 11.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a variational manner of applying the smaller boot 71 to member 15. In this case, ring 65 is secured to member 15 at 66 and has an inturned annular flange 71 and an out-turned annular flange 67 the latter having an annular recess 68 into which the boot is pressed by strap 69, the smaller end 01 boot 63 being drawn together about shaft 11. Flange 71 is adapted to ride in annular groove 72 provided in spider face 49, when members 15 and 16 are rotated relatively.

Lubricant is admitted to compartments 26 and 641: through the aperture 73 in flange 19, a suitable lubricant valve 74 preferably be ing provided; The lubricant thus introduced finds its way to all the wearing parts of the joint. For instance, it Works down between member 16 and element 43 and between shaft end 55 and element 48. The passageway 75 drilled through end 55 to bore 57 (Fig. 2) admits lubricant to the bearing face of pin 50, and a passageway 7 6 in the arm portion 01 U-element 43 passes lubricant to the cylindric faces 10 and 1 1. Lubricant also passes from recess 40 through passageways 77 in member 15 to recess 21 from which it passes between the bearing faces of members 15 and 16, as well as to the bearing face of stub shaft 25.

It will be noted that there is considerable extent of longitudinal. bearing between 'ele ment 4,-3 and member 16 at each side oi axis A and that the arms 4E8 of element 13 have hearing engagement with the flattened sides 56 of shaft 11, which flattened faces extend considerably beyond the center of pin 50. A.c cordingly, the universal pivotal connection is well adapted to serve as a driving connection between the member 16 and shaft 11, there being no pins exposed to excessive shearing strains as is ordinarily the case with universal pivotal connections where the drive is directly through said connections. It Will also be noted that this central disposition of the pivotal connection and the use of the pivotal connection as the sole drive connective means between shaft 11 and member 16 makes it possible to concentrate the 5&1'11011111'8 at the center of the joint 12 and do away with the driving arms usually provided at some little distance from the centers of universal joints. In spite of the sturdy construction of the pivotalconnection which permits 01' it being the drive connection between sha'lt 11 and member 16, saidconnection is so compact that it occupies but very little space and consequently reduces the over-all dimensions 01 the universal to surprisingly small size.

This feature of concentration of parts and compacting of mechanism is also largely contributed to by reason of the fact that pivotal connection 17 and the yieldable connection between members 15 and 16 lie in the same plane.

It will be understood the drawings and description are to be considered merely as illustrative of and not restrictive on the broader claims appended hereto, for various changes in design, structure and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope 01' said claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a pair of shafts, a pair of members, means resiliently connectin said members, means connecting one shaft to one of the members, and means universally pivoting the other shaft to the other of said members, said pivoting means beinglocated substantially in alinement with the axis 01' said one shaft and providing a driving con nection between said other shaft and said other member, said resilient connecting means and said pivoting means lying substantially in the same plane.

2. In a device of the character described, a pair of shafts, a member embodying a plate, and angularly spaced lugs extending angularly from the plate, a second member associated with the plate for rotation with respect thereto, wings on said second member, coacting means on said lugs and wings adapt ed to hold said second member and plate against separation in the direction of the second mcmbers axis of rotation, springs acting between the members to resist yieldingly such rotation of said second member; a connection between one of the shafts and one of the members, and means universally pivoting the other shaft to the other member.

3. In a device of the character described, a cup-shaped member, angularly spaced shoulders extending radially inward from the flange of the cup-shaped member and spaced from the cup-bottom, a second member mounted for limited axial rotation within the cup-member, and angularly spaced, radial wings on the second member and extending between the cup bottom and said shoulders to hold the cup-member and second member against separation in the direction of the second members axis of rotation.

1. In a device of the character described, a cup-shaped member, angularly spaced shoul- GETS extending radially inward from the Cir flange of the cup-shaped member and spaced from the cup-bottom, a second member mounted for limited axial rotation within the cup-men'iber, angularly spaced, radial wings on the second member and extending between thecup bottom and said shoulders to hold the cup-member and second member against separation in the direction of the second members axis of rotation, and springs acting between the cup-member and second member to resist vieldingly axial rotation of said second member.

5. In a device of the character described, a

cup-shaped member, angularly spaced shoulders xtending radially inward from the flange of the cup-shaped member and spaced from the cup-bottom, a second member mounted for limited axial rotation within the cup-member, angularlyl spaced, radial wings on the second member and extending between the cup bottom and said shoulders to hold the cup-member and second member against separation in the direction of the second members axis of rotation and springs acting between the cup-member and second member to resist yieldingly axial rotation of said second member to a position clearing said wings from beneath said shoulders.

6. In a coupling for drivingly connecting a pair of shafts, a pair of members drivingly connected one to each of said shafts, and means holding the members separably in end to end engagement and drivingly connecting them, said means embodying a plurality of radial extensions on one of the members and a plurality of angularly spaced shoulders on the other member adapted to overlie the extensions radially, said extensions being entered beneath the shoulders by moving the members together with the extensions between the shoulders and then rotating one member with respect to the other a predetermined distance, and drive connective means interposed sal joint connection within the hub between said spider and the other shaft, means holdmg said member and spider against separative movement mthe directions of the shaft axes, and a limitedly yieldable drive connection betweensaid member and said wings.

8. In a coupling for drivingly connecting a pair of shafts, a member 'drivingly connected to one shaft near its end, a spider embodying a hub having an axial recess opening to one side face thereof and having a transverse way opening to the recess and. the

outer peripheral face ofthe hub, a plurality I of angularly spaced Wings extending radially from the hub, one of said wings being removable and normally closing said way, and a universal joint connection between said spider and the other shaft, said connection being introduced to the recess through said way when said one wing is removed, said one wing being subsequently replaced to close the way and thereby hold the connection from displacement, means holding said member and spider against separative movement in the directions of the shaft axes, and a limitedly yieldable drive connection between said memher and said wings.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 14th day of October, 1926.

- JOSEPH TRIULZI. 

